Job Description
This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the National Trust's most iconic places. As General Manager for Hardwick Hall and Stainsby Mill, you'll set the strategic direction for an internationally significant and high-profile Growth Portfolio, balancing commercial growth, conservation excellence and inclusive access, while accelerating our ambition to restore nature and connect more people to heritage.
You'll be empowered to make bold, values led decisions that ensure Hardwick thrives for everyone, for ever.
What it's like to work here
Hardwick Hall is a unique and special place, welcoming large and diverse audiences and playing a vital role in the local visitor economy. You'll lead a passionate and skilled team of staff and volunteers, working closely with regional and national specialists, local communities and partners. Collaboration, curiosity and inclusion are central to our culture, alongside a shared commitment to caring for nature, beauty and history.
Reporting to the Assistant Director, you'll be the figurehead of the Harwick Estate, holding key stakeholder relationships on behalf of the organisation, both internally and externally. You'll lead your teams in operating across a complex and dynamic commercial visitor operation, balancing the sensitivities of unique heritage assets with those of a working farmed landscape, developing and delivering exciting plans to deliver more for nature and climate.
What you'll be doing
You'll be accountable for the overall performance and long term plan for Hardwick Hall and Stainsby Mill, ensuring strong performance that supports our charitable purpose. Leading a Growth Portfolio, you'll identify opportunities to grow income, broaden audiences and reinvest in conservation, while maintaining high standards of visitor experience.
You'll champion the Trust's strategic priority to Restore Nature, embedding environmentally responsible practices across operations, projects and decision making. Working with internal specialists and external partners, you'll help shape landscapes that are resilient, accessible and rich in wildlife, alongside safeguarding Hardwick's exceptional historic significance.
As an inclusive leader, you'll inspire and empower teams, role model collaborative working, and actively involve volunteers, communities and partners. You'll manage complex risks, oversee conservation and capital projects, and act as a convenor beyond property boundaries to deliver shared outcomes for people, place and planet.
Who we're looking for
You don't need to meet every requirement in the role profile, but we'd love to hear from you if you have:
- Proven senior leadership or general management experience in a complex organisation
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience delivering growth
- A track record of leading teams through change with empathy and clarity
- Experience of working in partnership and influencing a wide range of stakeholders
- A commitment to inclusion, sustainability and the National Trust's values
The package
The National Trust has the motto 'For everyone, for ever' at its heart. We're working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It's important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we're for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Rental deposit loan scheme
- Season ticket loan
- EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
- Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
- Flexible working whenever possible
- Employee assistance programme
- Free parking at most Trust places
